What Is the Standard Process for A Roofing Insurance Storm Damage Claim?

Denver roof repair

Storms are devastating forces of nature that form quickly and can hit hard equally quickly. The building component that is the most vulnerable to raging winds, heavy rain and strong hail is the roof, with storm damage claims for roofs accounting for over half of all home insurance claims. If your roof has also been affected by a storm and your home insurance policy covers for storm damage, here are the steps to follow to file your insurance claim correctly.

Contact Your Insurance

This should be your first step, right after you notice that your roof has sustained damage. Call your insurance agent or your insurance company’s help line or support to inform them about the damage sustained by your roof and to find out about any special procedures to follow. You will need to enlist a roofer’s help for the correct assessment of your roof damage as well as for the roof repair or the roof replacement – your insurer can also recommend you the Denver roofers they work with.

Call a Roofer

Contact a Denver roof repair contractor as soon as possible – this is an essential step to perform a correct assessment of the damage as well as for implementing any necessary damage mitigation measures. The roofer that you call will come to your place and will document the damage for you to provide evidence for your insurance claim file. During the documentation phase, your roofer will take pictures and record videos of each scratch and crack on your roof, then your contractor will do whatever is necessary to mitigate the damage on your roof, through temporary measures, such as covering the structure in foil to prevent further damage.

Prepare Your Claim File

Most insurance policies allow the policy holder a year to file the insurance claim, but the sooner you act, the shorter it will take to obtain the compensation. Check your insurance company’s website to find out exactly what documents need to be included into your file and how you can submit your file. In some cases, claims files need to include a repair cost estimate or, if you file the claim after you have completed the repairs, you will need all the documents that prove how much you have paid your roofer. The majority of insurers do not require the personal submission of claims files – they usually accept submissions through their website. For more details and clarifications, you can turn to your insurance agent or to your Denver roofer.

Wait for Your Insurer’s Expert

Your insurance company will send their own adjuster to talk to you and to offer you the sum that they consider acceptable as damage compensation. If you accept the amount, you will soon receive the money into your account – if you do not, you can enter into negotiation or seek legal help from a lawyer to obtain an acceptable settlement. The Denver roofer that you work with can also help you during the negotiations with the insurance adjuster by providing an expert opinion and professionally grounded arguments to justify your claim.